Forums IMPORTANT: PLEASE READ PhotoReading, Memory Optimizer NOPS is failing me!

I bought the home study course a couple of months ago. I am impressed with "Previewing", and find this a valuable tool for preparing to read any material.

As far as I am aware, I am doing all the steps correctly:
I state my purpose -
I enter the relaxed state of mind -
I preview and pull out trigger words -
I try to keep an awareness of the back part of my head -
I state my affirmations prior to PhotoReading -
I can see the blip page as I turn the pages (the words are some times in focus/sometimes blurrey) -
I close with a sense of mastery -
I wait for the incubation period -
I superread and dip -
I draw mind maps -

SO WHY DOESN'T ANY OF IT WORK??!! I cannot even do the simple dictionary game. I have not yet found a word I was looking in the right place (even inverted).

I certainly understand the concepts behind PhotoReading, and I believe they can work. But they are not working for me. My belief in the NOPS approach is wearing thin after 3 reviews of the whole tape course and numerous reads (at normal speed) through the PhotoReading book.

How can I strengthen the neural pathways from the conscious to the unconscious? When superreading, I get no "sense" of where to dip. I get no spontaneous recall of any kind.

N.B. If PhotoReading is "taking a mental photograph of the page", am I supposed to see the page in my mind (i.e the words on a specific page)?
Or am I just to get a "feeling" of what the answer to a question might be without knowing where the answer came from?

Can anyone help a struggling PhotoReader?

Many thanks

CJK

I sense much anger in you. You must release your anger and quiet your spirit. Then you will hear the force speak to you.

I think you've gone over the material more than enough. Start Playing with it. You seem too tense. Your goal of wanting high-speed photographic memory may be creating too much tension. Set yourself a smaller goal, and listen to yourself.

NOPS is for when you use the system, not when you review the course.

May the force be with you.

Hi. Welcome to the forum.

I bought the home study course a couple of months ago. I am impressed with "Previewing", and find this a valuable tool for preparing to read any material.

Indeed, previewing is a useful tool in itself. However, it's usefulness multiplies when used in the context of the system.

As far as I am aware, I am doing all the steps correctly:
I state my purpose -
I enter the relaxed state of mind -
I preview and pull out trigger words -
I try to keep an awareness of the back part of my head -
I state my affirmations prior to PhotoReading -
I can see the blip page as I turn the pages (the words are some times in focus/sometimes blurrey) -
I close with a sense of mastery -
I wait for the incubation period -
I superread and dip -
I draw mind maps -

You seem to have the steps right. How about mind-probing questions? They help trigger the information from the inner mind to conscious understanding. May I ask what your purpose of reading the material usually is? I ask because of your other post. Mentally photographing a page does not necessarily imply a photographic memory. The inner mind is probably capable of it, but I'm not aware of any course that actually teaches it. I also ask because often eidetic (photographic) memory is not always even desirable. A photographic memory does not imply comprehension. In most cases, you want to comprehend a book, not regurgitate it. When you photoread, the inner mind processes the information and then makes it easier for you to understand and absorb it. People like Pete and Paul have developed it to the degree where spontaneous activation is easily possible, but in most cases you need to apply manual activation, as it's more reliable.

SO WHY DOESN'T ANY OF IT WORK??!! I cannot even do the simple dictionary game. I have not yet found a word I was looking in the right place (even inverted).

How would you define work? I do not mean to be cheeky here, but what is your requirement for it to "work"? As long as your speed and/or comprehension improves, it is "working". How has your experience been in this area? Have you been able to improve speed? Comprehension? It is difficult to help until we have an idea of your position.
Furthermore, I note that the dictionary game is not necessarily the best measure of how good a photoreader you are. If it works for you, it demonstrates that spontaneous activation is possible, as well as the power of our minds. If it doesn't, and there are many for whom it doesn't in the beginning, you might be better off leaving it off for awhile and improving manual activation. It is often found that when photoreaders come back to the dictionary game later, their scores improve.

I certainly understand the concepts behind PhotoReading, and I believe they can work. But they are not working for me.

How many books have you PRed? Have you been able to find information more easily? Have you tried all the exercises in the course? Have your dreams become more vivid? Again, I'm asking you to think about exactly what you mean by "not working". When we have that definition, then we would be better able to help you.

My belief in the NOPS approach is wearing thin after 3 reviews of the whole tape course and numerous reads (at normal speed) through the PhotoReading book.

I can understand that your patience is being tried. You've obviously spent quite some time on it. Hopefully, we can work out how to get it on track.

How can I strengthen the neural pathways from the conscious to the unconscious? When superreading, I get no "sense" of where to dip. I get no spontaneous recall of any kind.

You can strengthen them by using the system, not by willing them to manifest. This is done by using the system. As to superreading, what sort of sense are you expecting to show you where to dip? You seem to have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Spontaneous recall comes spontaneously. Especially when you're relaxed. It comes out of the blue, and sometimes you don't necessarily realise what hits you. I suggest that you may want to focus on manual activation first. Trying to force spontaneous recall is likely to block it.

If PhotoReading is "taking a mental photograph of the page", am I supposed to see the page in my mind (i.e the words on a specific page)?

As in, would you have a photographic memory? I won't say no, because sometimes that happens. Most of the time, though, you have an inner knowing of what's going to happen. Activating the book brings it into conscious knowledge.

Or am I just to get a "feeling" of what the answer to a question might be without knowing where the answer came from?

That is most likely to happen when you TRY to get the answer. Spontaneous activation usually happens when you're unaware of it e.g. in a conversation, you surprise yourself.

Can anyone help a struggling PhotoReader?

We'll try, but you need to help yourself.

Good luck.

KWLee

[This message has been edited by KWLee (edited November 15, 2002).]

CJKNIGHT,

How many activaton passes have you done?

Alex

To: Yoda

Thanks for the relaxation advice – Use it I will!

I shall also apply NOPS when I use the system.

Regards

CJK

To: KWLEE

Thank you for quantitative reply.

Yes I do use mind-probing questions.

Yes I do want to achieve eidetic memory, but I understand this may take years to cultivate. At this moment, I would settle for any of the “sublime” experiences as highlighted as examples in the PWMS book.

“What is required for it to work?”
All that I get from using all of the steps is a “general” idea of each book. That is, I get structure and concept from previewing, plus whatever I have consciously superread or rapid read. If I want further comprehension I have to read normally. I was expecting PR to “fill in the blanks – join up the dots”. Isn’t activation supposed to construct the highway for the rest of the information placed in your other-than-conscious mind to travel on?

How many books?
25 –30 on subjects including: accounting, business, law, management, time management, NLP, memory, speed reading, screenwriting, music theory, grammar & punctuation, card tricks, finance, dictionaries, foreign languages, computer manuals, magazines, etc.

Have I found information more easily?
No! I only know the basic structure of each book (see above) plus what I have stored in my conscious mind via reading normally. Some books I have read normally several times and PhotoRead, but I still could not claim any in-depth knowledge (or identify any concept/word/phrase on any given page).

Superreading
Does not work for me. Instead of getting a “feeling” of where to dip, I dip when I feel guilty about how many pages I have been turning, and I’m worried about getting to the end of the book without having dipped anywhere! The pages where I dip contain no information relevant to my goals of mind-probing questions.

Dreams?
I do a lot of “playing as if”. I dream that I already have the knowledge or skill contained in the book, but…nothing! Can you help me make my dreams come true?

Regards

CJK

To: Alex

“How many activation passes?”
Consider that I have normally read the book several times previously “normally” in the first place. Then I PhotoRead. I activate by going through the book about three times, making mind maps as I go – I also record/dictate tapes of key points and play them in the car. I apply mnemonic memory principles/the major system to other key points or phrases.

When all this fails (after a week or so) I give up and re-read the book normally again!

Regards

CJK

Have you used the technique on another book?

Photoreading is for reading and learning. Reading to gain understanding. If you want memory tricks Try Tony Buzans book Use your Memory. Photoreading isn't a shortcut to a Photographic (eidetic) memory. The experiences mentioned in the book are the result of using the technique and applying manual activation on many books. Photoread and activate more books is the way to go toward achieving that. And yes, I have had experiences along the lines mentioned in the book and most of the books that I photoread I still manually activate.

Why anyone would want to memorise a book I don't understand. To me it is more a point of understanding what I read and making use of that information a parrot has an eidetic memory but I wouldn't ask it for advise would you?

Alex

Hi
To be frank, if it's memory you're trying to cultivate, you might be better off looking at memory courses. (I happen to have the set of Dominic O'Brien's Super Memory Course brand new, by the way. You want it half the usual selling price? )

I find it difficult to understand why you would want to read a book before you PR it. PRing doesn't take that much time, and you are probably best off doing that before you read it. As for the "sublime experiences", you might wish to note that very few people get spontaneous activation immediately. I suggest you try manual activation first.

As to your manual activation, I can only say that you are not doing enough activation layers at this point. In fact, working it up as you are, you should probably expect to do no less than six 30-minute superreading sessions. During the first one or two, you will get the structure, as you are already doing. You then go on to fill in the details. It is only fair to say that as your demands for comprehension increase, the more time you would want to spend with the book. During superreading, you need to open yourself up. If you're expecting your inner mind to hit you on the head with a bat at every dipping point, well, it's not likely to happen. The bridge between the conscious and inner mind takes developing.

On your comment that you expect PR to "fill in the dots", it can, but doesn't always. Most of the time, you need to superread for that. Spontaneous activation comes with practice, as I have said.

Can you help me make my dreams come true?

Nope. That's something you need to do for yourself. We can only help you help yourself.

KWLee